Analysis unit intended to be used in analysis apparatus

ABSTRACT

This analysis package comprises: a cartridge ( 3 ) for reactive products comprising several recipients ( 4 ) for reactive products arranged one above the other, wherein each recipient comprises a neck ( 6 ), wherein the neck of each recipient is provided with a closing device ( 7 ) and a plate ( 13 ) for receiving the cartridge ( 3 ), wherein the plate comprises a receptacle ( 22 ) which is open to the top for receiving the bases of the recipients ( 4 ) for reactive products which bases form the cartridge; and means for keeping the recipients for reactive products in position situated in distance from the receptacle, wherein the position keeping means are organized such that they cooperate with the necks of the recipients for reactive products when the bases of said recipients are received in the receptacle ( 22 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a National Stage of International Application PCT/FR2007/001241,filed 19 Jul. 2007, which claims the benefit of Application No. 0606685,filed in France on 21 Jul. 2006, the disclosures of which Applicationsare incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an analysis unit intended to be used inanalysis apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The document EP 0 871 894 describes a first type of analysis unit. Thisanalysis unit consists of a cartridge for reagents. According to thisdocument, the cartridge comprises several reagent receptacles fixed toeach other by means of connecting slides provided on the transversesides of the receptacles. Each receptacle consists of a body formed bytwo half-shells obtained by means of plastic injection-molding andultrasound-welding and a lid ultrasound-welded onto the opening definedby the half-shells. Moreover, each receptacle comprises two slides ofmatching shape which are molded integrally with the respectivehalf-shells and are provided respectively on each of its transversesides, each slide being intended to co-operate with a matching slide ofan adjacent receptacle.

The manufacture of these receptacles requires the injection-molding of alarge number of parts and subsequent ultrasound-welding of these parts.Since injection-molding and ultrasound-welding require very costlytools, the cost of manufacturing the receptacles and therefore thecartridge is very high.

The fact that the receptacles are assembled by means of slides moldedintegrally with the bodies of the receptacles requires a high degree ofprecision during molding of the half-shells and therefore requires aninjection-molding technique in order to produce the half-shells. Thus,it is not possible to produce these half-shells using another lesscostly molding technique.

Moreover, the assembly of a large number of parts may result in the riskof leakages of the receptacles and therefore discarding of a certainnumber of receptacles.

Moreover, in order to identify these possible leakage defects in thereceptacles, it is required to provide very costly means on the vesselproduction line.

As a result the manufacture and assembly of a cartridge such as thatdescribed in the document EP 0,871,894 is very complex and costly.

The document EP 1,432,516 describes a second type of analysis unitcomprising a reagent cartridge and a carrier intended to receive thecartridge.

According to this document, the cartridge comprises several reagentreceptacles made of plastic and assembled together. As in the documentEP 0,871,894, each receptacle consists of a body formed by twohalf-shells obtained by means of plastic injection-molding andultrasound-welding and a lid ultrasound-welded onto the opening definedby the half-shells.

Thus, as before, the cost of manufacturing these cartridges is very highsince the receptacles are obtained by means of injection-molding of alarge number of parts and ultrasound-welding of these parts.

The carrier described in the document EP 1,432,516 comprises a seatwhich is open upwards and intended to receive the base of the reagentreceptacles forming the cartridge, as well as means for keeping thereceptacles in position. These position keeping means comprise, on theone hand, snap-in grooves provided on the front wall of the carrier andintended to cooperate with matching ribs provided on the longitudinalfront sides of the receptacles and, on the other hand, vertical notchesprovided on the end wall of the carrier and intended to cooperate withvertical hooks provided on the longitudinal rear sides of thereceptacles.

The formation of the hooks and the snap-in ribs molded integrally withthe body of the receptacles requires a high degree of precision duringmolding of the half-shells forming the receptacle bodies, resulting inthe need for an injection-molding technique in order to produce thehalf-shells. Thus, it is not possible to produce these half-shells usinganother less costly molding technique.

As a result, the manufacture of an analysis unit such as that describedin the document EP 1,432,516 is very complex and costly.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

The technical problem underlying the invention therefore consists inproviding an analysis unit which has a simple structure and has a muchlower manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention concerns an analysis unit intended to be usedin an analysis apparatus, characterized in that it comprises:

-   -   a cartridge for reagents comprising several reagent receptacles        assembled together, each receptacle comprising a neck, the neck        of each receptacle being equipped with a closing device, and    -   a carrier intended to receive the cartridge, the carrier        comprising a seat which is open upwards and intended to receive        the base of the reagent receptacles forming the cartridge, as        well as position keeping means for keeping the reagent        receptacles in position, situated at a distance from the seat,        the position keeping means being arranged so as to cooperate        with the necks of the reagent receptacles when the bases of the        latter are received inside the seat.

Thus, the receptacles forming the cartridge are kept in position on thecarrier of the analysis apparatus by means of co-operation of the neckof each receptacle with the position keeping means provided on thecarrier. Consequently, it is not necessary to provide complex positionkeeping means directly on the receptacles. It is thus possible tosimplify manufacture of the receptacles and therefore decrease the costof manufacture of the cartridge and therefore the analysis unit.

As a result, the cost of manufacture of the receptacles and thereforethe cartridge is greatly reduced compared to the cost of manufacturingthe cartridges according to the prior art.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the position keeping meanscomprise several notches provided on the carrier and each intended tocooperate with the neck of a reagent receptacle when its base isreceived inside the seat.

Advantageously, the distance between the axes of two adjacent necks is amultiple of the distance between two adjacent notches.

Owing to this fact, it is possible to use receptacles with differentvolumes to form the cartridge, while ensuring that the neck of eachreceptacle will be situated perfectly opposite the respective notchprovided on the carrier when the cartridge is mounted on the latter.

Advantageously, the carrier comprises a substantially vertical end wall,the upper longitudinal edge of which comprises a substantiallyperpendicular folded flange in which the notches are provided.

Preferably, the folded flange comprises a succession of notchesuniformly distributed along its length.

According to another characteristic feature of the invention, the bottomlongitudinal edge of the end wall has a substantially perpendicularfolded flange comprising a rim substantially parallel to the end wall,the rim and the end wall forming together with the folded flange theseat intended to receive the base of the reagent receptacles.

Advantageously, the carrier has a stirring system comprising a tubularsupport with a vertical axis mounted in a rotationally movable manner onthe carrier and having on its external surface rotational driving means.

Preferably, the rotational driving means comprise a toothed wheelintended to be rotationally driven by a driving mechanism of an analysisapparatus.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each receptacle is made ofplastic and as one piece, the neck of each receptacle being blow-moldedintegrally with the body of the respective receptacle.

Thus, each receptacle of the cartridge is made directly as one piece bymeans of plastic blow-molding.

Owing to this fact, it is not necessary to provide very costlyinjection-molding means and ultrasound-welding means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each receptaclecomprises two substantially parallel longitudinal sides intended toco-operate with the carrier and two transverse sides with a matchingshape, the transverse sides of two adjacent receptacles directed towardseach other resting against each other.

Advantageously, the cartridge comprises receptacles with differentvolumes. It is thus possible to perform analyses requiring the use ofdifferent reagents in different quantities.

According to a characteristic feature of the invention, the receptaclesare fixed together by means of a self-adhesive strip surrounding thelatter.

Thus, it is not necessary to provide complex and costly mechanical meansfor performing assembly of the different receptacles. It is thuspossible to reduce even further the cost of manufacturing the cartridge.

Preferably, the self-adhesive strip forms a label which has on itsexternal surface information about the cartridge, in particular adescription of the reagents used and the analysis to be performed, theinformation being provided, for example, in the form of a bar code.

According to another characteristic feature of the invention, theclosing device of each receptacle is formed by a cap, the skirt of whichhas, on its inner side, means for fixing by means of screwing orsnap-engagement onto the neck of the receptacle and the bottom of which,which is at least partially open, is equipped with a piercible membrane.

According to another characteristic feature of the invention, theanalysis unit comprises a tubular container mounted inside the tubularsupport, the axis of the tubular container being offset with respect tothe axis of the tubular support.

Owing to this offset arrangement of the axis of the tubular containerand the axis of the tubular support, it is possible to perform orbitalstirring of the solution contained inside the container when the toothedsupport wheel is rotationally driven by the driving mechanism of theanalysis apparatus. Thus, when the solution contains magnetic particlesintended to capture the analyte which is to be analyzed, this orbitalmovement of the container prevents agglomeration of the magneticparticles against the internal surface of the latter.

Since these magnetic particles are denser than water, they tend to forma deposit inside the container. In this respect it is very importantthat these magnetic particles should remain suspended in the solutionduring analysis.

As a result, before performing an analysis, the operator removes thecontainer from the tubular support, shakes it and then repositions itinside the tubular support. This operation of ensuring that the magneticparticles are suspended is simpler than the operations performed withthe cartridges described in the documents EP 1,432,516 and EP 0,871,894.In fact, according to these documents, the container forms an integralpart of the cartridge, which means that the entire cartridge must beshaken to ensure that the magnetic particles contained inside thecontainer remain suspended.

Moreover, in contrast to that described in the documents EP 1,432,516and EP 0,871,894, the means for rotationally driving the container arenot provided directly on the container which is disposable, but on thetubular support. This minimizes the cost of manufacture of the containerand therefore of the analysis unit.

Preferably, the inner wall of the container has longitudinal fins. Thishelps improve stirring of the magnetic particles when the container isrotationally driven.

Advantageously, the outer wall of the container has a longitudinalgroove intended to co-operate with a matching rib provided on the innerwall of the tabular support so as to ensure fixing of the container inthe support.

In any case, the invention will be understood more fully with the aid ofthe following description, with reference to the accompanying schematicdrawing showing, by way of a non-limiting example, an embodiment of thiscartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an analysis unit according to theinvention during assembly.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an analysis unit according to theinvention, in the assembled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown more particularly in FIG. 1, the analysis unit 2 comprises acartridge 3 for reagents, comprising five reagent receptacles 4 eachcontaining a liquid reagent.

Each receptacle 4 is made of plastic as one piece and comprises a body 5and a neck 6 formed integrally by means of blow-molding. The body 5 ofeach receptacle has a general rectangular shape viewed in section andcomprises two substantially parallel longitudinal sides intended toco-operate with an analysis apparatus carrier and two transverse sideswith a matching shape. The transverse sides of two adjacent receptaclesdirected towards each other rest against each other.

It must be noted that the neck 6 of each receptacle is equipped with aclosing device 7 and is intended to cooperate with a notch with amatching shape provided on the analysis carrier. The closing device ofeach receptacle is formed by a cap 7, the skirt of which has, on itsinner side, means for fixing by means of screwing or snap-engagementonto the neck of the receptacle and the bottom of which, which is atleast partially open, is equipped with a piercible membrane 8. Thepiercible membrane comprises several slits 9 allowing easy insertion orretraction of a probe or a needle of the analysis apparatus inside thereceptacle.

These different receptacles 4 are fixed to each other by means of aself-adhesive label 11 surrounding the latter. The self-adhesive label11 has, on its outer side, a bar code 12 containing information aboutthe cartridge, in particular for example a description of the reagentsused and the analysis to be performed.

The cartridge 3 comprises three identical 10 ml receptacles as well as a20 ml receptacle and another 40 ml receptacle. In this case, theanalysis to be performed therefore requires the use of five differentreagents in different quantities for determining the presence of aprecise substance in a sample to be analyzed.

However, taking into account the different nature of the analyses whichcan be performed by the analysis apparatus, the number, the size and theposition of the receptacles used may vary.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the analysis unit 2 also comprisesa carrier 13 made of plastic. The carrier 13 has a substantiallyvertical end wall 14, the upper longitudinal edge 15 of which has alongitudinal folded flange 16 extending substantially perpendicularlywith respect to the end wall and over the entire length of the latter.The folded flange 16 comprises nine notches 17 which are uniformlyspaced along its length, each notch 17 being intended to cooperate withthe neck of a reagent receptacle of the cartridge.

The bottom transverse edge 18 of the end wall has a longitudinal foldedflange 19 extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to theend wall 14 and over the entire length of the latter. The folded flange19 comprises a rim 21 substantially parallel to the end wall 14 andextending over the entire length of the latter.

The rim 21 and the end wall 14 form together with the folded flange 16 aseat 22 which is open upwards and intended to receive the base of atleast one reagent receptacle.

It should be noted that the first and second folded flanges form the topwall and bottom walls of the carrier, respectively.

The transverse edge 23 of the end wall directed towards the analysisapparatus comprises a transverse folded flange 24 extendingsubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the end wall and over aportion of this transverse edge. It should be noted that the threefolded flanges have substantially the same width.

The folded flange 24 has a lower lug 25 and an upper lug 26 extendingoutwards perpendicularly with respect to the latter. Each lug comprisesa circular through-orifice, the two orifices being coaxial.

The carrier 13 also has a stirring system comprising a tubular support27 mounted in a rotationally movable manner on the folded flange 24. Thetubular support has a cylindrical body 28 which has on its outer surfacea toothed wheel 29 intended to be rotationally driven by a drivingmechanism of an analysis apparatus. The cylindrical body 28 is prolongedin succession by a first cylindrical portion 30 and a second cylindricalportion 31 with a smaller diameter, the two cylindrical portions beingcoaxial with the cylindrical body 27. The first cylindrical portion 30is engaged inside the orifice of the upper lug 26 while the secondcylindrical portion 31 is engaged inside the orifice of the lower lug25.

It should be noted that the second cylindrical portion 31 comprises, atits free end, a catch cooperating with the bottom side of the lower lug25 so as to prevent displacement of the tubular support relative to thecarrier.

The carrier also has a handle 32 integral with the folded flange 16allowing insertion and removal of the cartridge of the analysis device.

In order to fix the cartridge 3 on the carrier 13, it is sufficient toengage firstly the base of each receptacle inside the seat 22 of thecarrier, and then engage the neck of each receptacle inside therespective notch 17. It should be noted that the notches extend in aplan substantially perpendicular to the axis of the necks of thereceptacles when the latter are fixed on the carrier.

In order to ensure proper fixing of the receptacles on the carrier, thespace between the upper side of each receptacle and the bottom side ofthe closing cap 7 corresponds substantially to the thickness of thefolded flange 16, and the shape of each notch 17 matches that of theneck of each receptacle. Moreover, proper fixing of the receptacles onthe carrier is also achieved owing to the fact that the space betweenthe bottom folded flange 19 and the top folded flange 16 correspondssubstantially to the height of the receptacles 4.

It should be noted that the notches 17 also prevent lateral movement ofthe receptacles with respect to the carrier 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, the analysis unit also comprises a tubular container33 which is removably mounted in the tubular support 27, the axis of thetubular container being offset with respect to the axis of the tubularsupport. Advantageously, the tubular container has longitudinal finsprovided on its inner wall and holds a solution containing magneticparticles intended to capture the analyte which is to be analyzed.

It should be noted that the outer wall of the container has alongitudinal groove cooperating with a matching rib provided on theinner wall of the tubular support in order to ensure fixing of thecontainer in the support.

As goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the soleembodiment of this cartridge, described above by way of example, andinstead embraces all the variations of embodiment. Thus, in particular,the number of notches and/or receptacles could be different. Moreover,the carrier 13 could be metallic, for example made of stainless steel,which would improve the thermal and electrical conductivity fordetection of the level of the reagents in the receptacles.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An analysis unit configured to be used inan analysis apparatus, comprising: a cartridge for reagents comprisingseveral reagent receptacles assembled together, each reagent receptaclecomprising a body and a neck, the neck of each reagent receptacle beingequipped with a closing device, and a carrier configured to receive thecartridge, the carrier comprising: a seat which is open upwards andconfigured to receive the base of the reagent receptacles forming thecartridge, and several notches situated at a distance from the seat, thedistance between the notches and the seat corresponding to at least theheight of the bodies of the reagent receptacles, each notch has a shapecorresponding at least partially to the shape of the neck of therespective reagent receptacle, the neck of each reagent receptacle isconfigured to engage inside the respective notch, each of said notchescooperates with the neck of a reagent receptacle when the base of thelatter is received in the seat, the notches extending in a planeperpendicular to axis of the necks of the reagent receptacles.
 2. Theanalysis unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between theaxes of two adjacent necks is a multiple of the distance between twoadjacent notches.
 3. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe carrier comprises a vertical end wall, an upper longitudinal edge ofwhich comprises a perpendicular folded flange in which the notches areprovided.
 4. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the foldedflange comprises a succession of notches which are uniformly distributedalong its length.
 5. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein abottom longitudinal edge of the end wall has a perpendicular foldedflange comprising a rim parallel to the end wall, the rim and the endwall forming together with the folded flange the seat intended toreceive the base of the reagent receptacles.
 6. The analysis unit asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier has a stirring system comprisinga tubular support with a vertical axis mounted in a rotationally movablemanner on the carrier and having on its outer surface rotational drivingmeans.
 7. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein therotational driving means comprise a toothed wheel intended to berotationally driven by a driving mechanism of an analysis apparatus. 8.The analysis unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each receptacle is madeof plastic and as one piece, the neck of each receptacle beingblow-molded integrally with the body of the respective receptacle. 9.The analysis unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each receptaclecomprises two parallel longitudinal sides intended to cooperate with thecarrier and two transverse sides with a matching shape, the transversesides of two adjacent receptacles directed towards each other restingagainst each other.
 10. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe cartridge has receptacles with different volumes.
 11. The analysisunit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacles are fixed to eachother by means of a self-adhesive strip surrounding the receptacles. 12.The analysis unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the self-adhesivestrip forms a label containing on its outer side information about thecartridge, in particular a description of the reagents used and theanalysis to be performed, the information being provided for example inthe form of a bar code.
 13. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 1,wherein the closing device of each receptacle is formed by a cap, theskirt of which has, on its inner side, means for fixing by means ofscrewing or snap-engagement onto the neck of the receptacle and thebottom of which, which is at least partially open, is equipped with apierceable membrane.
 14. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 6,further comprising a tubular container mounted in the tubular support,the axis of the tubular container being offset with respect to the axisof the tubular support.
 15. The analysis unit as claimed in claim 14,wherein the inner wall of the container has longitudinal fins.
 16. Theanalysis unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the outer wall of thecontainer has a longitudinal groove intended to cooperate with amatching rib provided on the inner wall of the tubular support in orderto ensure fixing of the container in the support.
 17. An analysis unitconfigured to be used in an analysis apparatus, comprising: a cartridgefor reagents comprising several reagent receptacles assembled together,each reagent receptacle comprising a body and a neck, the neck of eachreagent receptacle being equipped with a closing device, and a carrierconfigured to receive the cartridge, the carrier comprising: a seatwhich is open upwards and configured to receive the base of the reagentreceptacles forming the cartridge, a vertical end wall having an upperlongitudinal edge comprising a perpendicular folded flange, the foldedflange being situated at a distance from the seat, the distance betweenthe folded flange and the seat corresponding to at least the height ofthe bodies of the reagent receptacles, and several notches provided onthe folded flange, each notch has a shape corresponding at leastpartially to the shape of the neck of the respective reagent receptacle,the neck of each reagent receptacle is configured to engage inside therespective notch, each of said notches being intended to cooperate withthe neck of a reagent receptacle when the base of the latter is receivedin the seat.